Encapsulating mechanism



Dec. 21, 1954 c, c, ALVQRD 2,697,316

ENCAPSULATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fild July 6, 1951 was 27 24 7 [lb 51 Invent a) H 2 CHA LES QfiLvoRD fiatom y Dec. 21, 1954 c. c. ALvolD 2,697,316

ENCAPSULATING MECHANISM Filed July 6, 1951 5 sheets-sheet 2 CHARLES C. HLVOR'D fimsor zey United States Patent Ofiice 2,697,316 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 ENCAPSULATIN G MECHANISM Charles C. Alvord, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Norton (lllompany, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massac usetts Application July 6, 1951, Serial No. 235,484

16 Claims. (Cl. 53--86) The invention relates to encapsulating mechanism for the manufacture of soft filled capsules and the like. This invention contemplates an improved apparatus for incorporation in a machine of the type described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,549,327 granted April 17, 1951 on application of Rex E. Moule.

One object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the type indicated which will have a long life and the parts of which will not readily wear out. Another object is to provide adjustments which are readily accessible. Another object is the provision of indicating devices to indicate when the dies are sufliciently loaded and giving a warning to prevent over load. Another object is to provide a safety mechanism to limit any over load on the dies. Another object is to provide a well balanced mechanism to .avoid distortion and prevent binding of the parts.

Another object is to reorganize the arrangement of the die operating mechanism to permit the incorporation of anti-friction rollers to carry the main load of the encapsulating pressure. Another object is to provide a compact mechanism which is nevertheless readily accessible for adjustment. Another object is to provide adjusting screws which immediately lock in new position when turned. Another object is to provide mountings for the main springs for retreating the dies so that the springs can be quickly replaced without disassembly of the mechanism as a whole. Another object is to provide a compact mechanism of the characteristics indicated which can be quickly incorporated in a machine constructed according to the aforesaid Moule patent replacing the die operating mechanism thereof. Another object is to provide a quick and accurate means for setting the die carrier bars and for centralizing them.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one of many possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism;

Figure 2 is a front elevation with certain parts shown in vertical section taken along the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the right hand side of the mechanism;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation on an enljarged scale illustrating the setting of the die carrier ars;

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged views partly-in section and partly in plan further illustrating the setting of the die carrier bars;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the indicating mechanism for Iijndicating the pressure on a capsule forming die carrier Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 and the section being taken on the same horizontal plane but on an enlarged scale as compared with Figure 4 and omitting certain portions of the mechanism which are shown in Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a photographic perspective view of the mechanism'in order more clearly to illustrate the same.

The mechanism of the present invention is preferably mounted in its own housing so that it is a self-contained unit, with all operating parts mounted in place and so that the unit can quickly be mounted on the main vertical wall of an encapsulating machine according to the aforesaid Moule patent, of which there are now many in existence. First, of course, the old mechanism which is to be replaced, is removed.

Referring now to Figure 1, a heavy back plate is one member of this frame or housing and it has holes 21 (Figure 10) whereby it can be bolted to the vertical wall 25 of the aforesaid Moule machine.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, extending forwardly from the back plate 20 adjacent the sides thereof are similar side frame pieces 26 which are rigidly secured to the back plate 20 as by welding. These side frame pieces 26 are, as better shown in Figure 2, shaped somewhat like a step of a stairway to provide room in the upper and lower regions of the mechanism for the operating apparatus while supporting it at the most advantageous places; as better shown in Figure 3, the lower legs 26a of these frame pieces 26 extend nearly to the bottom level of the mechanism but are cut away in a considerable area adjacent the back plate 20 to make room for cams and spring mechanism to be described and lower supports 28 extend forwardly from the back plate 20 to the undersides of the legs 26a and are welded to each of these parts.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, extending horizontally between the upper portions of the frame pieces 26 at the front thereof and rigidly secured thereto as by welding is an upper front frame piece 29. Extending horizontally between the lower legs 26a at the front thereof and also rigidly secured thereto as by welding is a lower front frame piece 30. These frame pieces 29 and 30 are spaced apart vertically so as to allow view of and access to the network 31 and to the operating mechanism; as shown the upper front frame piece 29 is above the steps in the frame pieces 26 and the lower front frame piece 30 is below these steps.

Referring nowto the lower left hand corner of Figure 3, a rectangular bracket base 35a is secured as by means of screws 36 and pins 37 to the lower front frame piece 30 and to the lower legs 26a. There is a similar bracket on the other side of the mechanism and referring now to Figure 2 as well as to Figure 3, the brackets have webs 35b supporting hubs 35c and for another view of the latter see also Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the webs 35b have bores therethrough in which are ball bearings 39. The back plate 20 has bores therethrough which contain ball bearings 41 aligned with the ball bearings 39. A long shaft 42 extends through the ball bearings 39 and 41 at the left hand side of the mechanism and a somewhat shorter shaft 43 extends through the ball bearings 39 and 41 at the right hand side of the mechanism, these shafts 42 and 43 being thereby rotatably supported. The shaft 42 corresponds to the shaft 235 of the aforesaid Moule patent and the shaft 43 corresponds to the shaft 242 of that patent and the former may be driven as described in the Moule patent or either of these shafts may be driven in any suitable manner. However they rotate in synchronism and at the same speed having sprocket gears 44 and 45 secured to them which gears are connected by a chain 46 which may run over another sprocket gear, not shown.

Referring now to Figure l, in line with the bracket hubs 35c are bearing bosses 48 integrally secured as by welding to the back plate 20. The hubs 35c and the bearing bosses 48 are bored and rotatably support shafts 49, there being two of these shafts one on each side of the mechanism. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, on each side of the machine are upstanding lever portions 56a and b which are connected by horizontal portions Site which are integral with lever hubs mounted on the shafts 49 and pinned thereto by pins 51. The horizontal portions 5G0 have depending portions 50a which are slotted to receive rollers 52 mounted on shafts 53 through the portions 5%. These rollers 52 bear against and are actuated by cams 54 mounted on the shafts 42 and 43. Thus when the rollers 52 are moved outwardly the tops of the lever portions 50a and 50b are moved inwardly. The various portions 50a, 50b, 50c, 50c and the hubs constitute, on each side of the mechanism, a single lever, the portions being integral and preferably cast in a single piece, and the several portions have been separately described chiefly to enable the reader to identify the levers as a whole which might otherwise be difficult since they overlap other elements of the mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the upstand1ng lever portions 50a and 50b constitute, with PlIlS 55a and 55b which they support, clevises for the actuation of heads 56, one on either side of the mechanism. The pins 55a and 55b are secured in the tops of the lever portions 50a and 50b by means of screws 57 and extend into the heads 56 as clearly shown 111 the aforesaid figures. Screws 58 extend through the heads 56 having threaded portions 58a in threaded bores in the heads 56; these screws have threaded portions 58b of smaller diameter and different pitch which extend into threaded bores in links 59 connected by pins 68 extending therethrough and through clevis projections 61 to die carrier bars 62 which are mounted to move horizontally.

The heads 56 are slotted to provide extensions 63 which are integral with the heads 56 but can be moved relative thereto by a matter of a few thousandths of an inch by means of screws 64 in the extensions 63 and abutting the main portions of the heads 56, and in th1s way a resistance, more or less, to the turning of the screws 58 can be set up so that the screws 58, once adjusted, need not be tightened in any other way. The screws 64 are set to make the screws 58 turn hard but so that they nevertheless can be readily turned with a wrench, but thereafter will not move until again adjusted with a wrench. By reason of the fact that the portions 581: and 58]) are of different pitch, whenever the screws 58 are turned the die carrier bars 62 are adjusted relative to the levers 50 and the adjustment is fine so that accurate adjustment can be made. The die carrier bars 62 have bushings 65 extending therethrough and these bushings 65 are mounted on fixed horizontal rods 66 headed at the right hand end which extend between the side frame pieces 26 and are mounted therein being secured in position by means of caps 67 held by screws 68 against the headed ends.

Referring now to Figure 3, on each side of the machine are upstanding lever portions 70a and 7012 which are connected by horizontal portions 700 Which are lever hubs mounted on the shafts 49. The horizontal portions or hubs 70c have depending portions 70c which are slotted to receive rollers 72 mounted on shafts 73 through the portions 70a. These rollers 72 bear against and are actuated by earns 74 mounted on the shafts 42 and 43. Thus when the rollers 72 are moved outwardly, the tops of the lever portions 78a and 70b are moved inwardly. The various portions 70a, 70b, 70c and 70e likewise constitute, on each side of the mechanism, a single lever, the portions being integral and preferably cast in a single piece. The drawings and especially Figure 2 show how the lever 70 fits within the lever 50 except that the extensions 70a and rollers 72 are behind the extensions 50c and the rollers 52 and this telescoping of the mechanism enables me to locate a great deal thereof in a comparatively small space and yet the adjusting devices can be readily reached.

Referring now to Figure 3, the upstanding lever portions 70a and 70b constitute, with pins 75a and 75b which they support, clevises for the actuation of heads 76, one on either side of the mechanism. The pins 75a and 75b are secured in the tops of the lever portions 70a and 70b by means of screws 77 and extend into the heads 76 as clearly shown in Figure 3. Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, screws 78 extend through the heads 76 having threaded portions 78a in threaded bores in the heads 76; these screws have threaded portions 78b of smaller diameter and different pitch which extend into threaded bores in links 79 connected by pins 80 extending therethrough and through clevis projections 81 to preflexed bars 82 which are mounted to move horizontally.

As in the case of the heads 56, the heads 76 are slotted to provide extensions 83 which are integral with the heads 76 but can be moved relative thereto by a matter of a few thousandths of an inch by means of screws 84 in the extensions 83 and abutting the main portions of the heads 76, with the same results and advantages provided by the extensions 63. The screw portions 78a and 78b are of dilferent pitch in order that turning of the screws 78 will finely adjust the distance between the preflexed bars 82 and the levers 70.

Referring now to Figure 4, die carrier bars 86 have bushings 87 extending therethrough and these bushings 87 are "mounted on fixed horizontal rods 88 which extend between the side frame pieces 26 and are mounted therein being secured in position, as shown in Figure 3, by the caps 67 held by the screws 68.

The die carrier bars 62 carry tube forming dies 90 (Figures 1 and 2) corresponding to the dies 96 and 97 of the aforesaid Moule patent and, as in the patent, they form tubes of gelatin out of the ribbons 91. The die carrier bars 86 carry capsule forming dies 92 (Figures 2 and 4) corresponding to the die members 120 and 121 of the Moule patent and, as in the patent, they form capsules 93 out of the previously formed tubes of gelatin which were formed around pipes or nozzles 94 by the tube forming dies 90, the tubes of gelatin being filled with predetermined quantities of medicament or other filling material through the pipes 94 just prior to the actuation of the dies 92. The encapsulating machine with the present mechanism thus forms, out of gelatin ribbons 91, capsules 93 leaving network 31 which is the residue of gelatin having holes where the capsules were died out and which network 31 is eventually remelted' to be used again.

It has been found that, in a machine of the type described in the Moule patent the pressure between the capsule forming dies is frequently 2000 pounds and usually at least 1000 pounds. But a slight missetting of the parts in these prior mechanisms would cause the pressure to exceed 2000 pounds by a large amount resulting in mushroomed dies and the adjustments in these prior mechanisms were not very fine and were diflicult to gauge accurately. A matter of one or two thousandths of an inch adjustment in these machines spells the difference between satisfactory operations and breakdown and, as the parts wear, readjustments have to be made. According to the present invention I have provided not only fine adjustments but also means for accurately gauging the checking the adjustments, even when the machine is running, and furthermore I have provided means whereby, if an overload occurs it will be limited to a matter of a few percent, such as ten percent overload, whereas a couple of thousandths of an inch excess motion in the prior machines could double the pressure and frequently did mushroom the dies.

The bars 82 have been termed preflexed bars and, in the setting of the present mechanism they are preflexed. That is to say they are preferably made of steel which, though relatively rigid can be bent like a spring and will give a relatively constant tension throughout a long period of time for a given deflection. As shown in Figure 4 I provide screw bolts having accessible heads 101 which can be readily reached and turned with a wrench (see Figure 1) and having shoulder portions 102 which will not pass through holes 103 in the bars 82 through which the shanks of the bolts 100 do pass and which shanks have screw threaded ends 105 extending into screw threaded holes in the die carrier bars 86. The bars 82 are loosely mounted on the rods 88 and between the bars 82 and the bushings 87 are pairs of washers 106 having mating spherical surfaces. The bushings 87 have shoulders 107 whereby they cannot be forced further into the carrier bars 86 than the position shown in Figure 4. It will now be seen that when the bolts 100 are tightened the bars 82 are flexed and that the thrusts from the screws 78 to the die carrier bars 86 go by way of the preflexed bars 82. When the adustments have been made nuts 108 on the bolts 100 are tightened to keep the adjustments. The mechanism has two die carrier bars 86, which are opposite to each other and it has two preflexed bars 82 each of which is ad justed by a bolt 100.

Referring now to Figure 8 which is a vertical sectional view, secured to each preflexed bar 82 is an upstanding scale member 110. Pivotally mounted at 111 on the scale member is apointer 112 having its lower end in engagement with a groove 113 in the screw bolt 188. If a screw 78 pushes its bar 82 with a pressure greater than the pressure set up in the bar 82 by a preflection thereof, the bar 82 will be further flexed causing it to move inwardly of the mechanism away from the shoulder portion 102 and this will cause the pointer 112 to read the further deflection on the scale member 110. It is a simple matter to calibrate a bar 82 relative to a screw bolt 100 to set up a table of pressure on the bar 82 co- Ordmated against angular turning of the screw bolt 100 and so therefore the mechanism can be set to give a maximum pressure between the capsule forming dies 92 and the moment this pressure is exceeded the pointer 112 will be seen to flicker as the capsule forming dies 92 come together. However, even if the predetermined pressure is exceeded, since the bars 82 are in effect springs, such predetermined pressure will be exceeded only by a small percentage contrary to the case where the die actuating mechanism is substantially rigid. But if a pointer 112 does flicker the machine should be reset and I have provided accurate apparatus for setting the dies which will now be described.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the upper front frame piece 29 has a slot 115 therein and across this slot 115 extends a vertical stud 116 at the center of the mechanism which is at the center of the frame piece 29. Secured to the underside of the top of the slot 115 by means of screws 117 is a plate 118 having a cross 119 depending therefrom and inte ral therewith. Through the plate 118 and the cross 119 a vertical hole is dri led just large enough to receive the stud 116. I provide a pair of scales 122 and 123. the former being for gauging the inward position of the die carrier bars 62 and the latter being for gau ing the inward position of the die carrier bars 86. It will be remembered that the die carrier bars 62 have secured thereto the tube forming dies 90 and the die carrier bars 86 have secured thereto the capsule forming dies 92. In the operation of the mechanism the tube forming dies 91) sh uld come almost but not quite in contact with each other in order to form tubes of gelatin around the pipes 94 but not to sever these tubes. For a given thickness of the gelatin ribbons 91 and for a given kind of elatin the desired clearance between the dies 90 when they are closest together is known. The dies 91) can be gauged to determine the h riz ntal dimensi ns thereof from front to back and then by simple ari hmetic the required distance apart of the carrier bars 62 when thev are closest to each other is determined.

The ca sule forming dies 92 are intended to sever capsules from the network 31 and thev are the ef re brou ht substantially into contact with each other. These capsule forming dies 92 can li ewise be gauged and a ain by simple ari hme ic the required distance apart f the carrier bars 86 when they are nearest to each other is determined. The thickness of the stud 116 is known and therefore the distances from the inside ver ical planes of the bars 62 and 86 to horizontal lines paral el to these planes and tan ent to the s uds 116 on either side thereof are known. Of course each tube f rmin die 90 should have the same dimensions h rizontally in directions parallel to the axes of the rods 66 and each capsule forming die 92 should have the same dimensi ns in directions parallel to the axes of the rods 88 but if there is a slight difference in either or both cases allowance can be made therefor since the calibrations are made on e ch side.

The scales 122 and 123 are therefore sli htly tapered, that is to say the ed e of the scale 122 having the scale marking 124 is nearly but not quite parallel to the 0pposite ed e. and the edge of the scale 123 having the scale marking 125 is also nearly but not quite parallel to the opposite edge.

With the above information to set the carrier bars 62 the shafts 42 and 43 are turned to cause the earns 54 to give maximum outward displacement to the rollers 52 and then the scale 122 is inserted throu h the slot 115 and ab ve the cross piece of the cross 119, with the back edge of the scale 122 flat against the vertical face of the bar 62 and when the scale 122 has been pushed in as far as it will go, the scale marking 124 is read against the front of the cross 119. If the die carrier bar 62 needs advancing the screw 58 is turned to advance it. but if it needs retreating the screw 58 is turned to retreat it and the screw is turned until the desired reading on the scale marking 124 is obtained. This operation is then repeated on the other side of the cross 119 to adiust the other carrier bar 62. In similar fashion to set the die carrier bars 86 the shafts 42 and 43 are turned to cause the cams 74 to give maximum outward displacement to the rollers 72 and then the scale 123 is inserted on one side through the slot 115 wi h the back ed e of the scaleflat against the vertical surface of the carrier bar 86 and then the screw 78 is turned until the scale marking 125 read against the front of the cross 119 gives the des1red re ding and this operation is of course repeated on the other side. Thus I have provided means accurately to set the die carrier bars 62 and 86 and Figures 5, 6 and 7 supplementing this description illustrate how the setting is done. The shafts 42 and 43 have discs 127 (see Figure 10) on the front thereof and these discs 127 have markings to indicate, against lines on the bases 35a, when the respective carrier bars are intheir inward positions.

I provide spring means for causing the rollers 52 and 72 to follow the cams 54 and 74 and these spring means act upon the levers 50 and 70. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the levers 50 have inwardly projecting arms 50 and the levers 70 have inwardly projecting arms 70 The arms 50) are connected by pins 130 to the heads of vertical rods 131 while the arms 70f are connected by pins 132 to the heads'of vertical rods 133. In this connection see Figure 3 which shows both rods 131 and 133 on one side of the mechanism, there being another rod 131 and another rod 133 on the other side of the mechanism. On the rods 131 are springs 134 and on the rods 133 are springs 135. The rods 131 extend into exteriorly threaded sleeves 136 while the rods 133 extend into exteriorly threaded sleeves 137. These sleeves 136 and 137 extend through threaded bores in the lower supports 28. The sleeves 136 and 137 uphold the springs 134 and 135 so therefore these springs hold the rollers 72 and 52 against the cams 74 and 54. The sleeves 136 and 137 are headed at the bottom and are shaped to receive wrenches, for example they can have hexagonal heads or square heads or any other convenient shape to receive wrenches or screwdrivers. It will readily be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that these sleeves 136 and 137 are readily accessible at the underside of the mechanism. Whenever any one of the springs 134 or 1335 becomes weak or broken it can quickly be replaced by removing the appropriate sleeve 136 or 137, and the spring will then fall down through the hole in the support 28 and a new spring can be pushed on the rod 131 or 133 through the hole and the sleeve 136 or 137 replaced.

Referring now to Figure 9, the capsule forming dies 92 include back plates 140 and die members 141 which have a series of openings 142 surrounded by cutting ridges 143 of the shape of the desired capsules. Presser plates 144 have openings 145 surrounding the ridges 143. The presser plates 144 are held to the die members 141 by means of studs 146 the heads of which are in holes 147 longer than the heads so that the presser plates can project beyond the ridges 143 and also can be forced behind the front edges thereof. Springs 148 normally hold the presser plates 144 forwardly. Knockout members 150 are located in the openings 142 and have shanks 151 extending through the back plate 140 and each shank 151 is surrounded by a spring 152, these springs extending between wires 153, through the shanks 151, and the back plates 140. Knockout operating plates 154 have integral stud portions 155 extending through the die carrier bars 86. These stud portions 155 are secured to threaded portions 156 of bolts 157 which extend through holes 158 (refer now to Figure 4) in the preflexed bars 82. The bolts 157 are secured by screws 159 to the side frame pieces 26 and cotter pins 160 through the bolts 157 and the screws 159 permit the former to be turned for adjustment by turning the latter. whereupon nuts 161 (see Figure 9) can be tightened to hold the adjustments. The die carrier bars 86 have elongated recesses 162 to receive the knockout operat- 7 ing plates 154 and the shanks 151.

This part of the mechanism is so similar to that of the Moule Patent 2,549,327 that the above brief description will suffice. The presser plates 144 correspond to the stripper plates 122 and 123 of the Moule patent and they act to center the filling material in the gelatin tubes and shape capsules therefrom whereupon the cutting ridges 143 unite the opposite walls of the tubes of gelatin, which of course were derived from the ribbons 91, and then sever the thus formed capsules from what now becomes the network 31. When the dies 92 re treat the knockout members 150 remain stationary and thus the capsules are ejected from the openings 142. The presser plates 144 also serve to clear the gelatin from the cutting ridges 143 after each capsule forming cycle of the mechanism.

The capsule forming dies 92 may be demountably secured on the bars 86 by means of screws 163 and the tube forming dies 90 may be similarly secured to the die carrier bars 62. The tube forming dies 90 need no especial description herein as their shape can readily be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2 and they are substantially like the dies 96 and 97 of the Moule patent except that the separate pieces 96b and 97b of that patent are not used in this illustrative embodiment but the pocket closing portions shown in Figures 37 to 41 of the Moule patent are preferably used being embodied in. integral ridges 164, Figures 1 and 2, across the bottom of the tube forming pockets 165.

The rods 66 and 88 are preferably secured against longitudinal displacement at only one side of the mechanism. In this manner any force tending to spring the frame is avoided. The heads of the rods 66 and 88 are larger than the holes in the frame piece 26 through which the rods extend and this keeps them from moving in one direction while the caps 67 keep them from moving in the other direction. The heads of these rods 66 and 22 are flattened on the edges, as shown in Figure 3, and shoulders on the caps 67 are in engagement with the flats, so that thereby the rods 66 and 85 are prevented from turning during operation of the mechanism, but they can be turned 180 whenever desired to present new surfaces to the attrition of operation.

Although it is preferable to have a pair of prefiexed bars 82, one for each carrier bar 86, it is nevertheless manifest that a practical mechanism having many or most of the advantages described could be built having only one prefiexed bar 82 on the same principle that you do not get any more pull on a rope by tying to two equally strong horses than you do by tying one end to one of these horses and the other end to a tree. Furthermore a useful encapsulating mechanism can be made having only half of the moving parts of the mechanism herein described, by reciprocating tube forming dies 96 and capsule forming dies 92 against stationary tube forming dies and stationary capsule forming dies because it is the relative motion and not the absolute motion that counts.

The screw bolts 106 are under tension while the washers 66 and the bushings 87 are under compression, but there could be two members under tension and one member under compression with the same results. Thus there are triple connections between each carrier bar 86 and its prefiexed bar 82 and so long as at least one of these connections is under compression and at least one of these connections is under tension, the results and advantages herein explained will be achieved.

The scale member 110 and the pointer 112 constitute a position indicating device comprising a pair of interconnected motion magnifying parts. They are of course connected by the pivot 111. it will be seen that one of these parts is connected to a carrier bar and the other of these parts is connected to the prefiexed bar behind the carrier bar.

The screws 58 and '78 are differential screws since they each have two screw threads of different pitch. It does not matter which of the threaded portions 11 or b has the greater pitch, but since the portions a have the greater diameter it is more convenient to give them the greater pitch. This differential screw means can give very fine adjustments.

The arrangements of levers with two upstanding portions and the clevis connections to the carrier bars give a nicely balanced thrust avoiding any binding. There are no frictional components tending to thrust the carrier bars to either side; the thrusts are substantially parallel to the rods 66 and 88.

In gauging the capsule forming dies 92 the distance from the outside of the back plate 146) to the front of the cutting ridges 143 is measured, the presser plate being pushed in as is easily done. In gauging the tube fortning dies 90 the outside extreme horizontal dimension parallel to the rods 66 is measured. The stud 116 is a vertical cylindrical member in the center of the mechanism and enables the operator quickly to gauge the mechanism on either side.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention encapsulating mechanism in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be un' derstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illus= trative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Encapsulating mechanism comprising, a capsule forming die carrier bar, means mounting said carrier bar for reciprocation, a prefiexed bar adjacent said carrier bar, triple connections between said carrier bar and the prefiexed bar, at least one of the connections being a connection under compression and at least one of the connections being a connection under tension, cam means, and connections from the cam means to the prefiexed bar to move it in one direction.

2. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim I having difierential screw means for fine adjustment between the cam means and the prefiexed bar to facilitate a precise adjustment of the carrier bar relative to the cam means. I

3. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 2 having a position indicating device comprising a pair of interconnected motion magnifying parts, one of said parts being connectd to the carrier bar and the other of said parts being connected to the prefiexed bar visibly to indicate flexing of the prefiexed bar.

4. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claiml having a position indicating device comprising a pair of interconnected motion magnifying parts, one of said parts being connected to the carrier bar and the other of said parts being connected to the prefiexed bar visibly to indicate flexing of the prefiexed bar.

5. Encapsulating mechanism comprising a tube forming die carrier bar, means mounting said bar for reciprocation, a capsule forming die carrier bar, means mounting said capsule forming die carrier bar under and parallel to said tube forming die carrier bar, a pair of clevises one connected to each carrier bar, a pair of levers each having a pair of upstanding portions with the pair of upstanding portions of one lever inside of the pair of upstanding portions of the other lever, one of the pair of clevises being connected to one pair of upstanding portions and the other of the pair of clevises being connected to the other pair of upstanding portions, a single shaft pivotally mounting each lever, a pair of cams, and a pair of rollers one on each lever, said roll- 1ers being engaged by said cams whereby to operate the evers.

6. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 5 having ditterential screw adjusting means between each clevis and each carrier bar to facilitate a precise ad ustment of the capsule forming die carrier bar relative to the lever.

7. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 6 having a prefiexed bar between the capsule forming die carrier bar and one pair of upstanding portions, and triple connections between the capsule forming die carrier bar and the prefiexed bar, at least one or the connections being a connection under compression and at least one of the connections being a connection under tension.

8. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 5 having a prefiexed bar between the capsule forming die carrier bar and one pair of upstanding portions, and triple connections between the capsule forming die carrier bar and the prefiexed bar, at least one or the connections being a connection under compression and at least one of the connections being a connection under tension.

9. Encapsulating mechanism comprising a pair of opposed tube forming die carrier bars mounted for reciprocation toward and from each other in horizontal directions, a pair of opposed capsule forming die carrier bars mounted for reciprocation toward and from each other in horizontal directions and below said tube forming die carrier bars, a pair of spaced cam shafts located below said capsule forming die carrier bars, said cam shafts being parallel and on the same level, a pair of levers on each side of the mechanism spaced from both sets of bars, each lever having an upstanding portion, a depending portion and a third portion, connections between the upstanding portions of said levers and the tube forming die carrier bars and the capsule die forming carrier bars to operate them, a roller on each of the depending portions, a pair of spaced cams on each of said cam shafts each arranged in operative engagement with one of said rollers to actuate said levers and reciprocate said die carrier bars in a direction perpendicular to a vertical plane passing through the axis of either cam shaft, and independent spring means acting against the third portion of each of said levers to maintain the rollers in operative engagement with said cams.

l0. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which one pair of levers, one on each side of the mechanism are provided with a pair of spaced upstanding portions and the other pair of said levers on each side of the mechanism are located between the upstanding portions of the first pair of levers.

l1. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which each of the levers having the upstanding portions are connected to the carrier bars by clevises.

12. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim ll in which one pair of the levers are connected to the tube forming die carrier bars and the other pair of levers are connected to the capsule forming die carrier bars by clevises.

l3. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 12 in which the capsule forming die carrier bars are connected to the clevises through preflexed bars and a set of triple connections from each of said prefiexed bars to each of said capsule forming die carrier bars, one at least of each set of triple connections being under compression and one at least of each set of triple connections being under tension.

14. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which the capsule forming die carrier bars are connected to the upstanding portions of the levers through preflexed bars and a set of triple connections from each of said preflexed bars to each of said capsule forming die carrier bars, one at least of each set of triple connections being under compression and one at least of each set of triple connections being under tension.

15. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 14 in which the spring means constitute rods surrounded by springs, said rods being pivotally connected to the third portions of the levers, said rods extending part way into removable sleeves which support the springs, said sleeves being located at the under side of the mechanism, whereby the springs can easily be replaced.

16. Encapsulating mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which the spring means constitute rods surrounded by springs, said rods being pivotally connected to the third portions of the levers, said rods extending part way into removable sleeves which support the springs, said sleeves being located at the under side of the mechanism, whereby the springs can easily be replaced.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 980,647 Lathan et al Jan. 3, 1911 2,305,998 Simmons Dec. 22, 1942 2,338,280 Brundage Jan. 4, 1944 2,340,231 Soderquist Ian. 25, 1944 2,508,849 Williams May 23, 1950 2,549,327 Moule Apr. 17, 1951 

